A serious life-threatening illness, kidney function
deteriorating, dialysis treatments, 5 operations , all
caused by MRSA staph infection, 39 days in the
hospital and months of recovery and physical
therapy to regain the use of arms and legs changed
my life.
How could such circumstances bring such peace
and comfort? Have you ever been to that place in life
where you had absolutely no control over
circumstances?
Laying in a hospital bed, unable to move around, I
had many hours to spend alone with God. In the
midst of this ordeal, when doctors were not sure if I
would have to be permanently on dialysis if I
survived, the word came. There was no medical
explanation. My body functions were returning and I
appeared to be recovering.
Looking back, I wouldn't trade this experience for
anything. How can you explain the inner peace,
sense of security, lack of apprehension for the
future, and confidence in recovery I possessed? And
this was before miraculous recovery and healing. I
truly began to fully experience my faith and trust in
my Father and living God during this ordeal. What
incredible love I felt.
As my recovery progressed, I began to write about
my thoughts and feelings. I wanted to remember this
experience in a way that would be permanent, that I
could hand down to my children and family.
Surprisingly, these thoughts came together in verse
form. I say surprising because writing has never
been a passion. I disliked writing, literature and
poetry in school. And here I was now writing in
poetic form, having had no training in it as God
nurtured this ability.
The responses from others and encouragement I
received to keep writing brought me to a realization
that I had a responsibility to share these inspirations.
Lives were being touched and impacted by them.
People came to me saying they were brought to
tears by the depth of meaning in the poems. Others
were having their faith restored, hearts comforted,
spiritual walk strengthened.
In 2007, circumstances came together to begin the
journey of publishing a book with Tate Publishing.
This has been a truly life-changing time for me as I
continue to learn to listen and follow the lead of my
loving God.
May my pen bring to you the thoughts and words
inspired by Him and bring you in touch with the
grace, mercy and love of the Creator.
deteriorating, dialysis treatments, 5 operations , all
caused by MRSA staph infection, 39 days in the
hospital and months of recovery and physical
therapy to regain the use of arms and legs changed
my life.
How could such circumstances bring such peace
and comfort? Have you ever been to that place in life
where you had absolutely no control over
circumstances?
Laying in a hospital bed, unable to move around, I
had many hours to spend alone with God. In the
midst of this ordeal, when doctors were not sure if I
would have to be permanently on dialysis if I
survived, the word came. There was no medical
explanation. My body functions were returning and I
appeared to be recovering.
Looking back, I wouldn't trade this experience for
anything. How can you explain the inner peace,
sense of security, lack of apprehension for the
future, and confidence in recovery I possessed? And
this was before miraculous recovery and healing. I
truly began to fully experience my faith and trust in
my Father and living God during this ordeal. What
incredible love I felt.
As my recovery progressed, I began to write about
my thoughts and feelings. I wanted to remember this
experience in a way that would be permanent, that I
could hand down to my children and family.
Surprisingly, these thoughts came together in verse
form. I say surprising because writing has never
been a passion. I disliked writing, literature and
poetry in school. And here I was now writing in
poetic form, having had no training in it as God
nurtured this ability.
The responses from others and encouragement I
received to keep writing brought me to a realization
that I had a responsibility to share these inspirations.
Lives were being touched and impacted by them.
People came to me saying they were brought to
tears by the depth of meaning in the poems. Others
were having their faith restored, hearts comforted,
spiritual walk strengthened.
In 2007, circumstances came together to begin the
journey of publishing a book with Tate Publishing.
This has been a truly life-changing time for me as I
continue to learn to listen and follow the lead of my
loving God.
May my pen bring to you the thoughts and words
inspired by Him and bring you in touch with the
grace, mercy and love of the Creator.
Clyde was born in Hawaii and grew up in
Los Angeles, California. After graduation
from Belmont High School, he received a
degree from California State University at
Los Angeles.
Bakersfield, California became home
after meeting and marrying wife, Robyn.
They have 2 children, Amanda and Zach.
Yukon, Oklahoma is now home to Clyde
and his family including son in-law
Nathan and grandchildren Mikeala, Nash,
and Ronan.
Los Angeles, California. After graduation
from Belmont High School, he received a
degree from California State University at
Los Angeles.
Bakersfield, California became home
after meeting and marrying wife, Robyn.
They have 2 children, Amanda and Zach.
Yukon, Oklahoma is now home to Clyde
and his family including son in-law
Nathan and grandchildren Mikeala, Nash,
and Ronan.
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Inspirations of Grace
Meet the author Clyde Watanabe
So how does he write these inspirations?
I usually get an insight that is maybe a couple
of words or a phrase. It may come when
listening to a song or hearing people talk. It
may come while driving down the road. What I
have learned to do is to pay attention.
In my Christian walk, I seek to listen to the
Holy Spirit nudging me to pay attention. Once
I have a theme or words, I will sit down and
write or type. If my thoughts are hard to
organize I step away. Perhaps it was an
impulse of mine to write something.
I have found that when I am following the
leading of the Lord, I will write straight
through for about 20-45 minutes. What is so
encouraging and perhaps strange for an
outsider hearing about this process is that I
often am writing but also waiting in
anticipation to see how it will end!
The Lord gives my thoughts clarity so I can
convey a message. What I have found is that I
tend to feel that a non-Christian may read my
writing and I want to have the poetry
straightforward enough that they don't get lost
in religious lingo. My desire is for the message
of the poem to connect them with the heart of
God.
The experience of writing has taught me that
God wants to express His love through my life.
It is not because of a special, developed talent
that I write. I may have had a natural ability in
my DNA to write, but it was His inspiration that
brought this ability out in me. It is His
inspiration that drives me to write out the
timeless messages of His grace, love, and
mercy for the world.
As one of my poems reveals, I am a work in
progress; we all are. And no matter what
circumstance I face, what hardship comes my
way, I have the assurance that these are just
opportunities to grow stronger in my faith in
God; to allow him to turn obstacles into
stepping stones. By the power and strength
of His grace, I am enabled to continue this
journey and share the special love he has for
us all. May your heart be touched by His love,
too.
I usually get an insight that is maybe a couple
of words or a phrase. It may come when
listening to a song or hearing people talk. It
may come while driving down the road. What I
have learned to do is to pay attention.
In my Christian walk, I seek to listen to the
Holy Spirit nudging me to pay attention. Once
I have a theme or words, I will sit down and
write or type. If my thoughts are hard to
organize I step away. Perhaps it was an
impulse of mine to write something.
I have found that when I am following the
leading of the Lord, I will write straight
through for about 20-45 minutes. What is so
encouraging and perhaps strange for an
outsider hearing about this process is that I
often am writing but also waiting in
anticipation to see how it will end!
The Lord gives my thoughts clarity so I can
convey a message. What I have found is that I
tend to feel that a non-Christian may read my
writing and I want to have the poetry
straightforward enough that they don't get lost
in religious lingo. My desire is for the message
of the poem to connect them with the heart of
God.
The experience of writing has taught me that
God wants to express His love through my life.
It is not because of a special, developed talent
that I write. I may have had a natural ability in
my DNA to write, but it was His inspiration that
brought this ability out in me. It is His
inspiration that drives me to write out the
timeless messages of His grace, love, and
mercy for the world.
As one of my poems reveals, I am a work in
progress; we all are. And no matter what
circumstance I face, what hardship comes my
way, I have the assurance that these are just
opportunities to grow stronger in my faith in
God; to allow him to turn obstacles into
stepping stones. By the power and strength
of His grace, I am enabled to continue this
journey and share the special love he has for
us all. May your heart be touched by His love,
too.
Photo courtesy of Julie Manuel/Manuel Focus, Mustang,Ok